Harper Madigan: Junior High Private Eye by Chelsea M. Campbell Read Free Book Online Page B

it. I’d been hoping to get farther into the investigation before they realized what was going on. I don’t know why they want Danigail to take the heat so badly, but whatever the reason, they mean business. If they get involved, it’s only a matter of time before Dodge finds out. And before he shuts me down. But I look at the kid in front of me, the way he hunches his shoulders and tries to look small, the way he trembles and twitches like a scared rabbit, like he’s lost all sense of how to exist and take up space… And I know that whatever the PTA’s going to do to me if I go after them, it won’t stop at shutting down the agency. That’ll be the least of my troubles.
    “Please,” he says. His eyes don’t just look haunted now—they look full on crazy. He reaches towards me with clawed hands and grabs my shoulders. “ Please ,” he begs. “You don’t know what you’re getting into!”
    I push him off of me and twist around so he’s no longer between me and the door. The last thing in the world I want is to become this guy. But really, that’s the second to last thing I want. Because even more than that, I don’t want Danigail to become this guy.
    I shake my head at him, my hand already on the door handle, ready to fly out of here. My heart pounds with terror. Every part of me screams not to say what I’m about to say, except the part of me that believes right is better than wrong, even in the face of certain destruction. My whole body feels numb, and my mouth seems to move on its own, though I’m perfectly aware of everything I’m saying. “Tell them I refuse their offer. Tell them Harper Madigan doesn’t go down without a fight. Tell them it’s on .”
    And then I’m gone, out the door before I can see the disappointment and horror on his face. I’m in the hallway, sucking in deep breaths, suddenly realizing how much I was suffocating in there. A couple kids stop to stare at me, but I ignore them. They can’t imagine the trouble I’m in. They can’t imagine how everything I’ve ever cared about is about to be turned upside down and ripped to shreds.
    But at least I’m doing the right thing. In the grand cosmic scheme of things it might not count for a whole lot, but it’s got to count for something. Right?

Chapter 7
     
    The track smells like a mixture of warm AstroTurf and that fake, spongy asphalt stuff. The girls in track team are all stretching and tightening their shoelaces. One girl in particular catches my attention. Austin’s gaping at her, too, so I know it’s not just me. She’s bent down, tying her shoe, so I only get a glimpse of her from behind, but I recognize those wavy blond locks from our interview this morning.
    “Veronica?” My mind races with questions, like what happened to her crutches and why is she here, about to run for track, but then I realize my mistake.
    Alexis Briar stands up, her mouth twisted in an angry scowl. “I am not Veronica Jones. If you ever mistake me for that diva again, I’ll—” She cuts herself off, clenching her fists and getting a grip, her nostrils flaring in and out. She reaches up behind her head and twists her hair into a ponytail.
    “Veronica was right,” Austin whispers. “She is trying to look like her.”
    He’s not quiet enough, because Alexis clearly hears him. She puts her hands on her hips and scuffs the toe of her running shoe against the AstroTurf. “Please. Veronica’s not even a natural blond, and you think I’m trying to look like her ? You’d better watch it, boys, because comparing someone to Veronica Jones can be a very offensive act. If you can’t at least behave yourselves, then for your sakes I hope you can run . And fast.”
    A dark haired girl breaks away from the rest of the group and jogs over. “You okay, Alexis? These guys reek of annoyance .”
    I hold up a hand. “We just want to talk. You’re friends with Danigail Bates?”
    That gets Alexis’ attention. She lets out an exasperated sigh of